Using jokes from a friend

I was writing this really funny scene in my story about one of the hero's friends and what he saw during a training excercise. As I wrote about it, I suddenly remembered that this was a joke a friend told me a few years ago when I was still in the Army.

The scene is similiar to the joke my friend told me, in that he sees his platoon sergeant as a sort of "dumb red-neck" and uses one of his "joes" to bash in a door. What the sergeant does is he grabs the private and bashes the soldiers' head into the filmsy door as if he were a battering ram. After his head pokes through (with a cartoony look on the private's face lol), he chucks the soldier onto the ground like used tissue.

Another one of the soldiers whispers to the sergeant and motions his hands as if to turn the door knob. The sergeant turns the door knob, realizes that it opens up, and apologizes to the soldier for doing that to him.

That's the joke that my buddy told me, and I really want to use that in my story. But if I do, would I have to acknowledge him or anything like that (to give him credit)? I doubt the validity of the story, but it was such a hiliarious joke that I want to use it in my novel.

At the front of the book you'll have to acknowledge that you didn't think of the joke yourself and give full credit to your friend, but only - and this is a big only - if he's given you permission (in writing) and been contracted for 10% of all royalties from that particular page.

In short, I'm joking - you can use anything you hear as long as you're sure it isn't totally ripping off someone else, such as copying out a Richard Pryor riff. Many a scene, story, and novel are based on stories that writers heard. Keep your ears open and take the best you find.

Very few people invent jokes, or anecdotes -- Those that do will be known to everyone around them because no one makes up good jokes all the time and if one out of ten jokes are bad everyone will groan the minute they start to tell a joke.

Safe bet = Your friend stole the joke from somewhere else.

Your only problem would be if it were a rip off from a riff from a professional comedian. I personally doubt this because most professional comedians want humor that everyone can relate to: Non military people probably would not find this joke funny if it were free standing -- In a story situation they probably would.

My brother and others send me $15 if they use any of mine. If I spend it that completes a sale. I always spend it. It is just a professional gesture.
If I take money for one found later not to be completely made up, I will never get another dime.

Rtily - what does your brother do with your jokes? Is he a comedian, or on the radio? He doesn't give you $15 for jokes he tells at parties, does he? If so, give me his address.

Using the person as a battering ram? Well, it was used in "Young Frankenstein" and I think I've seen it in several other movies. The original scene is probably as old as vaudeville, likely older.

So your buddy's joke probably is anecdotal at best, and not something that is anybody's "property" that you have to make allowances for.

That shows how powerful that joke is, doesn't it. I saw Young Frankenstein, don't remember the battering ram scene.

he's a comedian. He calls me for fresh material. If he uses it, he pays. If he sells it, he pays lots more.

Sometimes he calls and says he was contacted for a piece but can't get inspired. If I write one it will be a direct sale. the longest I submitted was a 2,500 word situation clip. mucho interest / mucho laughs. Almost made the sale but in the end it was too racy.

Me keep day job.

Maybe The Three Stooges? Or The Princess Bride? I know I've seen it somewhere.

Aha! From Google...

Murder Can Hurt You: "Later, they all use Palumbo for a battering ram, smashing through a concrete wall with his head."

Spy Hard: "A man is used as a battering ram by the bad guys as they try to break down a door."

Bad Taste: "Group of aliens use a zombie as a battering ram to knock down a door."

Deep Blue Sea: "1 Human used as battering ram."

Horror of Beach Party: "The gang uses the leader as a battering ram and smash him into Hank's chest. Hank throws up one of the emaciated freaks." :b

Toy Story 2:"I don't wanna use my head!"